Sure, I don't doubt that these temps are normal for the WBX. My posting
was in response to the idea that one might see an improvement if oil
levels were kept below the midway point between the notches.

Just because I post about something doesn't mean I'm worried about
something -- sometimes it's just /science/, man! Research! No point not
investigating whether cooler oil results from less oil, especially when
the claim comes from someone like the august Dennis Haynes.

In SoCal, freeway driving during summer routinely drove my aircooled
bus's 1600 dp's oil temp into the "red zone" of 220 to 225 F as reported
by the Gene Berg dipstick oil temp thingy:

<http://www.geneberg.com/article.php?ArticleID=242>

Those things are wired up to the oil lamp on the dash and whenever that
lamp came on, it meant it was time to take the foot off the gas. Which,
in SoCal does not mean "slow down," it means, "take the next exit and
get out of the way!" Which dropped the temp pretty darn quickly.

Although in SoCal, congested exits and angry drivers means that one is
never entirely safe from receiving the one-finger salute for being a
slowpoke. Heck, self-important drivers in a hurry down there run down
bicyclists and feel justified.

Here, in considerably more laid-back and less-populated central Oregon,
driving at a slower pace seems to offend fewer people, although grinding
up a long, hot grade with no turnouts in first gear at 3200 rpm (which
has been proposed here as a valid solution for keeping engine temps
under control) while watching cars stack up behind feels a bit
inconsiderate. But I guess there's nothing for it. These vehicles are
what they are.

--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
Bend, Ore.
1984 Westfalia. A poor but proud people.
1971 "Ladybug"-brand utility trailer from a defunct company in San
Clemente, Calif., now repurposed as The Westralia.

Sent from my kitchen.

On 08/09/2011 03:36 PM, Old Volks Home wrote:
> Actually, your oil temps are very normal for the Wasserboxer.  For
> awhile I ran an oil temp gauge in my Westy, but eventually did away
> with it because it was just another "worry" gauge that I felt was not
> needed.  My oil temps ran in that range with or without towing a
> trailer.  It's when the temps reach past 230/240 is when you should
> start worrying about oil breakdown.
>
> On my air cooleds I've run over the past 40 years, they ran a
> consistent 195-210f, Bugs or Buses (or my ex80 Vanagon).  My current
> 914 runs around 215/220 for most drives on a hot day, a bit cooler
> when driving along the coast.  It will creep up a bit on a grade, but
> Type 4 engines tend to run a bit warmer than their 1600 air cooled
> cousins.